Everyday, I’ll try to post a summary of three non-geek articles I read today. This is my vain attempt at trying to spread awareness of these types of issues.

WHO
The Vatican

WHAT
Is angry that the government approved of RU-486 (abortion drug)

WHEN
Drug was approved of last week

WHERE
Italy

WHY
Catholic Church is pro-life; Vatican warns that doctors who prescribe the drug will be excommunicated

FTA
According to the Catholic News Service, Archbishop Fisichella announced that “it is obvious that the canonical consequences” of using RU-486 are the same as those incurred for getting a therapeutic abortion: automatic excommunication.

More: http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2009/07/italy-oks-abortion-pill

WHO
21 (number is disputed) people at an Afghan wedding party

WHAT
Were killed in a roadside bomb

WHEN
Today

WHERE
Gasmir district of Helmand province

WHY
Unclear

FTA
The BBC’s Martin Patience, in Kabul, says it is not clear if the wedding party was the intended target of the attack.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8186882.stm

WHO
Chinese government

WHAT
Sealed off the plague town

WHEN
Today

WHERE
Ziketan in Qinghai province

WHY
Three people have died, nine people have fallen ill because of the pneumonic plague

FTA
“”The plague in Qinghai and the Tibetan plateau is unique … and it’s the most deadly in the world,” Wang Hu, the head of Qinghai Provincial Disease Prevention Bureau, said on Thursday.”

More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/08/20098642446955428.html